Here at 1STOPLighting, we have a large selection of colorful table lamps for designs that need accents of color in contemporary, traditional, or transitional spaces. Use colorful table lamps to dress up your contemporary space or add interest to a room. Many homeowners and designers typically use a splash of color on a focal wall, with accent rugs or with throw pillows. Instead of adding color the conventional way, try looking at your table lamps in the space instead! Purchasing table lamps with simple design and playful hues are a great way to add accents of color without fully committing to larger pieces in your space.

Working with a budget and still want to brighten up your space with color this spring? Try giving your existing table lamps a colorful makeover by switching out the old shades with new ones. Pattern shades are a great choice for those plain looking bases. Bright solid colored lamp shades is definitely another way to add colorful lighting to your existing table lamps as well.

Executive Director, Leatrice Eiseman states, “Honeysuckle is a hotter shade of pink. It’s attention-getting and it gets the adrenaline going. It’s related to red, so there’s a very visceral reaction there.” Though Honeysuckle might be a bright color for some, Eiseman says “Honeysuckle works well with a host of hues, including complementary colors on the opposite side of the color wheel, particularly blue-greens and navy, as well as neutrals such as blacks, browns and grays.” For some folks, Honeysuckle might be too strong of a tone, but it’s a color that works with many hues and that’s what you should strive for. So we suggest that a colorful table lamp be simple in form and have a pop of color that will work with your new or existing décor. 

See what Jeff Dross, Corporate Director of Education and Industry Trends at Kichler Lighting, says about Progressive design below.

Like fashion, it’s fun to follow trends, but “try not to choose a fixture that is too trendy in style or color because the style will fade as years go. Progressive design is key!” (Jeff Dross). Colorful Table lamps that are progressive in design tend to be useful in other spaces especially with shared spaces in the home. Finding a good balance of color and design, when it comes to choosing the “right” table lamp will be the most helpful to you.  

Just remember colorful lighting should add that splash of color in your space this spring not overwhelm it. See our choices below, to help guide you with purchasing from our selection of colorful table lamps!

ROBERT ABBEY item OR732, Capri by Jonathan-Adler, is a design that encompasses bold color and simplicity. Its orange cased glass translucent ceramic table lamp form and blanco parchment shade allow this portable to fit into many unique design situations. Designer Tip: This contemporary table lamp can also be used for retro spaces.  The beauty of this contemporary table lamp, is the bold yet subtle gradient finish that will make it one of a kind! Just remember its  finishes make a glossy statement where it sits.

MURRAY FEISS, Sidonia Collection, item 9998PN/BCVG, is a great way to add a bold light blue table lamp with subtleness to your space. This table lamp features a blue cased Venetian glass form with an off white pleated fabric shade. Its polished nickel metal details complete the quaint look. This contemporary table lamp is fit for those looking to add color to old world designs. Designer Tip: The pleated shade and its 3 way switch option is a great feature for mood lighting in a space.

DIMOND LIGHTING celebrates color and design from top to bottom with item D1611 in the Sharon Hill collection. A unique find, its vivid green smoked 3 sphere glass form is integrated with polished nickel metal detailing that takes your eye up to its off white organic pattern shade. Designer Tip: This portable serves as a 3 way lighting function and works aesthetically when the light is not in use as well. It’s a great piece for those who need a little green in their décor without committing to a green disaster.

ROBERT ABBEY Double Gourd Collection has many bold and saturated colorful ceramic glazed finish options. With plenty of bright colors to choose from, adding a pink table lamp to your contemporary space will be easy this spring! This particular item 1619X, displays its schiaparelli pink ceramic glazed body with a pearl dupioni fabric shade. Designer Tip: With Robert Abbey their metal finishes are plentiful as well as their shade options, so don’t forget about the details when selecting from Robert Abbey.

KICHLER LIGHTING, Color Cascade item 70735, is definitely a table lamp that makes a bold statement using cool tones of color. Its detailed hand-painted porcelain base and hardback white linen shade makes for a conversational piece in any space. Designer Tip: Talk about making a statement with a colorful table lamp! Due to the hand painted finish, each portable will have its own unique vibrant color statement. And its 3 way light switch option allows for great ambient lighting. 

Bar Design and Lighting Tips

Having a bar in your home, is a great way to entertain your guests, unwind after a long day, and has to be one of the sweetest personal treasures.

Ever notice when you have dinner parties, your guests like to socialize in one area? A bar in your home allows guests to congregate in a specific area, while you finalize the finishing touches for dinner. It is also an area that allows you to have a night cap or cocktail after a long day.

We would like to provide tips and useful information about the general style and shape of bar designs. But, more importantly, make suggestions to you about the types of lighting that will help complete your bar design. Bar Lighting should be tailored to fit your style and light setting in that area. Finalizing your bar lighting should be just as important as the bar design itself.

» Indoor Bar Design	» Ideal Bar Lighting	» Complimentary Lighting

Indoor Bar Design

Bar Designs vary from shapes to features, however most plans derive from basic concepts of what is needed to accommodate a bar. The list below contains the basic bar designs and features that are in most homes.

Straight Bar	As its name implies, this bar design is the simplest of all and also known as a Wet Bar. The features include: a wet bar sink on top, a foot rest on the stool side, a gutter area where you mix the drinks, an arm rail, space for the cooler or refrigerator and storage for barware/glassware. The Straight Bar style should have seating for 4-5 guests or more depending on the width of the bar. For this type of bar the width is typically 6 feet and up.
L-Shaped Bar	This is a bar design that is shaped like the letter L. Its functional features are the same as the standard straight bar. Simply put, its shape is different and there is a larger work area for the bartender. Again the measurements vary depending on the size of your space, but usually the lengths are symmetrical.
Kegger Bar	Also known as a Corner Bar is a design that is shaped like two L-shaped bars joint with the straight type in the middle. That joint creates a 45 degree angle and the long side is usually against the wall. This bar design accommodates a perfect space for a beer keg, hence its name. And most of its features are very similar to that of the Straight Bar and L-Shaped Bar design.
U Shaped Bar	This is a very huge bar that can accommodate plenty of seating, has a big space for the drinking area, equipped with a beer keg, beer gutter and will have all other basic bar features like that of the Straight Bar design. Keep in mind that this type of bar design would need a really large space to accommodate such shape and size.

Ideal Bar Lighting Design

The most general type of lighting application used for a bar, are lights that are over the bar counter. Below are some lighting solutions and tips to help you choose the right kind of lighting for your bar design needs.

Pendant Lighting

Pendants are the most commonly used lighting fixtures for over a bar counter. This type of fixture is available in a variety of shade shapes, cord options, canopy shapes and sizes, and bulb types. Ideally, pendant lighting is seen as a single unit fixture, but keep in mind that there are also multi-pendant lighting available as well. However for the bar designs listed above the ideal pendant lighting application to use over your bar should be a mono-point pendant which is a single unit fixture. Pendants allow you to have more freedom of placement over your bar; it also provides flexibility to create your desired lengths, illuminates to that of an ambient light setting and can be great conversational pieces.

Application Tips:

• Pendants with opaque shades will illuminate the surface of the bar, offering users more of a task light and intimate setting. Shades that are not opaque and permit more light are ideal for uses that need to help illuminate the space and bar.
• See pendant lighting for how high from the surface should your pendant hang, how many pendants are appropriate to light the width of your bar and how far apart you should install your pendants.
• Cord hung pendants provide more flexibility to field cut to desired lengths.
• Stem hung pendants provide a little bit of restriction, but are more sturdy to hold in place, look into pendants that provide stem kits or adjustable stems/rods.
• Canopy selection is also important, if you don't have enough space above the bar or want a clean look, slim line or flat canopies are ideal.
• A great way to switch out pendants and change the look of your lighting design is to use the Quick Jack Pendant system. We have this type of pendant lighting available with Tech Lighting and Besa Lighting. Please free to contact one of our lighting specialists if you have any questions about Quick Jack Pendants.
• Below are the different types of pendant lighting ideal to light up your bar!

Mini Pendants	Mini pendants are ideal to use for centralized lighting and usually has a shade width of 6 inches or less. The light output is a more intimate and gentle luminance on the surface of your bar.
Large Pendants	Large pendants provide more light on the surface of your bar and have a typical shade width of 6 inches or more. Try not to use a shade width bigger than 12 inches so that you can still create an ambient light setting over your bar.
Multi-Light Pendants	Multi-light pendants are ideal if you want multiple lights connected to 1 source. Keep in mind that there are different shapes and sizes of canopies. The pendants are also stationary to the canopy so you would have to place the fixture accordingly so that it illuminates the surface of your bar. These types of lights are really ideal for small bar designs, however you can still have fun hanging the pendants at desired lengths.

Complimentary Lighting

To complete your bar lighting design we cannot over look other details that are in addition to lighting over the bar. You need to consider additional lighting for the overall space, your liquor displays, under the bar, on the bar, and on your walls. Now keep in mind not every space would need all of these types of complementary lighting applications, however the tips below might help generate other ideas to complete your bar lighting design.

COMPLIMENTARY LIGHTING TO FINISH YOUR BAR DESIGN

OVERALL SPACE

• RECESSED LIGHTING: This option is a great way to add additional ambient lighting to your bar design in addition to your other lighting. The benefits of recessed lighting in your bar area is that they are dimmable, which is a great way to create an intimate or functional lighting source. Keep in mind that all recessed lighting fixtures will vary in size and will have different projections of light. If you need large recessed lights that are 6 inches or wider in diameter, try to stay away from trims that are baffle in style. You would want to go with a trim that will project more light smoothly and will not be harsh. Trims are now available in interesting colors, but keep in mind if your main focus is the lighting over the bar, try to stick with neutral colored trims.

LIGHTING YOUR LIQUOR DISPLAYS

• MINI-RECESSED LIGHTING: This type of lighting will illuminate down and create a dramatic centralized light source from the ceiling onto your liquor displays. These fixtures should be place right above your displays so that the light does not illuminate down into your eyes.
• LINEAR LIGHTING AND LED STRIP LIGHTING: LED strip and linear lighting are useful for under or over shelves and cabinets. Its unique design hides the view of the light source, but beams out light evenly across your displays.
• PUCK LIGHTS AND LED DISCS: These light sources project a more centralized source of light and can be useful for lighting up specific areas on your liquor display.

UNDER THE BAR

• A great way to light up task areas under the bar is to use the same applications as you would for your liquor displays with the exception of mini-recessed lights. Keep in mind that you can also use these types of lighting techniques to accent your bar’s qualities as well. For example, if you have a clear or opaque counter top, using LED strip lighting is a great solution to highlight your bar in a unique way!

WALL LIGHTING

• If you have extra wall space and need to fill it, try using wall lighting applications. Lighted signs are a great touch for you sport fans! A wall sconce is a nice way to add additional ambient lighting to your bar area and is quite suitable to accent columns that might be in your bar area as well.

With spring and summer approaching, let a ceiling fan be your inspiration! This month we are setting the mood using influences from summer getaways and Asian themes. With 1STOPlighting there are no shortages of portables and fixtures to complete your creative space. Ceiling fans this year are taking on a new role of design and function. Their design details are our inspirations in this month's lighting feature. Hopefully we can help you generate ideas and set the right mood in new and old spaces!

The Natural palm leaf blades on Fanimation Fans Islander helps create that quiet breeze of fresh air in your tropical themed space. Be tempted to build your own fan with Fanimation Fans as they provide all the components to complete your own tropical ceiling fan design. Bamboo table lamps from Kichler Lighting will accent your space and help set the mood with its 3-way light options. Additional pendant lighting from the Hanalei Bay collection by Forecast Lighting over your island, will add the finishing touches to your tropical getaway!

Contemporary ceiling fan Midoro, by Craftmade inspire us to create a Contemporary Asian theme. With its unique design we evoke a sense of peace and tranquility. The Asiana six light chandelier from Maxim Lighting, helps remind us of Eastern influences with its calligraphy like frame. For a calming and subtle light solution try Robert Abbey's Fuzo table light designed by Rico Espinet. Its simplicity allows us to complete your Asian mood. Like that of Espinet, "collections should affirm their environment".